Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.
Felix was starting to wear off by the time Frodo got to the castle. He was lucky to get past the door with Harry. Although, he managed to conceal himself, Frodo was nearly caught by Filch and Peeves. Never mind that now. He learned from Nearly Headless Nick that Dumbledore was in his office.
Perfect! He made his way with Harry straight to Dumbledore's office. They turned a few corners and walked past the statue. Sure enough, when Harry knocked on the door, the Headmaster was in his office. He followed Harry inside, where they were greeted by Dumbledore. Frodo waved his hand, becoming visible again as they entered the room.
"Sir, sir! We have the memory." Harry said, rushing towards him.
"Excellent! Let's all take a look at it." Dumbledore said, joining Frodo and Harry by the Pensieve.
Once more, Frodo dipped his head into the basin. There was fog and he landed in a younger Slughorn's office. Dumbledore and Harry landed right next to him. They were also keen on discovering more to this memory.
"Look sharp, Tom, Mairon!" Slughorn told the two younger students. "We don't want anyone catching you at this hour."
"That's odd." Mairon spat.
"Mairon and I came across a rare piece of magic in the Restricted Section." Tom told Slughorn. "It's called a Horcrux."
"This is dangerous stuff you're dealing with." Slughorn said, cautious.
"Which is why we've come to you." Tom said, keenly interested. "We thought you might know something about Horcruxes."
"One splits their soul and puts it inside an object for safe keeping. In other words, you cannot die." Slughorn told Mairon and Tom.
"So, how do one split his soul, professor?" Mairon asked, curious.
"By committing the one thing you shouldn't do. The one thing that's a violation against nature." Slughorn told him. "Murder. Murder rips the soul in half. All that damage can be used to the user's advantage. They take the damaged soul and place it inside an object."
"Would one do the trick?" Mairon asked, staring at his gold ring, wrapped around his index finger.
He and Tom spoke in unison. "Say seven—"
"Merlin's beard!" Slughorn's voice fell faint. "Splitting the soul in seven pieces. Please tell me this is just for research. No one's committing anything that dangerous."
"Of course, sir." Tom smiled.
"Just know that I enjoyed our little conversation." Mairon smiled as well.
The fog resurfaced. Frodo landed back in Dumbledore's office, with Dumbledore and Harry also standing before the basin. What he had just seen – the One Ring was a Horcrux? What if it wasn't destroyed? What then? There were seven horcruxes of Voldemort's and Sauron's. Fourteen horcruxes total? There had to be a mistake.
"How could he do that?" Frodo asked, hoarsely.
"You mean they've done it, sir, in making a horcrux." Harry asked Dumbledore.
"They have and not just once. There are twelve horcruxes total, as the seventh remains inside their original bodies." Dumbledore approached his desk. "The objects they put the horcruxes in could be anything. Rings or a book." He showed them three faded rings and two damaged diaries.
"Tom Riddle's diary." Harry said, stunned.
"That's Sauron's diary." Frodo said, remembering the book.
"They're horcruxes." Dumbledore told them. "When you both saved Ginny and Aria's lives down in the Chamber of Secrets, you brought me these. Do you not think that Sauron might not have concocted this? He created a horcrux. Six horcruxes. But that isn't the only cause. The fifth horcrux is by far the strongest one Sauron made. It was defeated by your original future self, Frodo. Sauron came back in time to ensure that his reign did not end. But he may have gone too far. The future is changing. He came back into human form. You are important because he was searching for the one person who would defeat him. That day, when the Ring was destroyed, Sauron's spirit was ripped away. Ripped in two. To find the sixth horcrux is something you will need to look into, Frodo."
"But still, those rings." Frodo said, pointing to the three Rings.
"Tom Riddle's mother's ring, the One Ring and the White Witch's Ring. They're all Horcruxes. Very difficult to destroy." Dumbledore showed Harry and Frodo his blackened hand. "The Orb of Truth is waning its powers. It too is a horcrux."
"You mean we've been working with a horcrux this whole time?" Harry asked, concerned. "Sir, how could they have entered the school?"
"Lucius Malfoy and Otho Sackville-Baggins gave Ginny Weasley and Aria Breuer these diaries. You tell me." Dumbledore said, curious.
"So, if we destroy each horcrux—"
"One destroys Voldemort and Sauron."
"Have we any idea where they are?" Frodo asked, curious.
"Not yet, but I may have a lead on one." Dumbledore added, "I must tell you, Frodo, Harry, that we do not need to follow the prophecies set upon you. You are free to choose your own path. But Sauron and Voldemort are keen on following it, which marks you as their equals. The only way to stop them is—"
"One of us has to kill the other." Harry finished his sentence.
Frodo nodded. "It was always going to be me who defeats Sauron." He admitted, "I thought at first it would be another hobbits' job." He explained, "When I read my books, I thought for sure that the One Ring was destroyed purely by chance. Now I have to kill Sauron. I'm not ready for this."
"Those of us who aren't ready usually are." Dumbledore admitted.
Frodo nodded again. At last, the truth was out and with a little added explanation as well. Sauron and Voldemort had horcruxes, and the only way to stay immortal was to drink the Elixir of Life. They wanted the Sorcerer's Stone, but Frodo, Harry and Aria managed to stop them in their first year by retrieving the stone.
To add, he now knew that it was his duty to stop Sauron once and for all. He was marked as Sauron's equal, but love was what kept him going. He just hoped the One Ring was destroyed, that after this Sauron would be destroyed for good. His parents would want to see him succeed, as did he. This was not over. Not yet.
Thanks for reading. :)